Self-closing cap for collapsible tubes



Feb. 23, 1937. G. LATEUR 2,071,412

SELF CLOSING CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Dec. 21, 1934 awe/r 47202? INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES SELF-CLOSING CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Gaston Lateur, San Francisco, Calif.

Application December 21, Q34, Serial No. 758,640

6 Claims.

My invention relatesto improvements in selfclosing caps for collapsible tubes, and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

In collapsible tubes the cap is generally re-' movably secured to the threaded outlet of the tube. This necessitates the threading of the tube and also the threading of the cap. After the cap is removed the tube is compressed sufiiciently to deliver the quantity of material desired, and then it is necessary to again place the cap on the tube.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a spring-pressed cap which does not have to be threaded to the tube, andwhich will automatically open to delivera ribbon of material when the tube is pressed. The spring isstrong enough to instantly close the mouth of the tube upon the releasing of the pressure on the tube. In this simple way the necessity for providing a removable cap is done away with, and further the material is delivered in a ribbon-like form from the tube. This adapts the device primarily to the dispensing of tooth paste.

The device is extremely simple in construction and the mouth of the tube is preferably made either square or rectangular in cross section. The end of the mouth is inclined at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the mouth, and the outer surface of the longer mouth wall is provided with a groove for removably receiving the cap. The cap normally closes the inclined open end of the mouth, and has a spring which will permit the cap to move slightly away from the mouth, for delivering a ribbon of material from the tube when the latter is pressed. The device is so designed that the mouth can be cast as a part of the collapsible tube, and the cap is made from one piece and can be removably secured to the mouth without the necessity of any additional fastening means. 3

Other objects and advantages .will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying.

drawing forming a part of this application, which Figure l is a perspective view of a tube showing 50 a perspective view of the improved tube and mouth and the cap therefor;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the other side of the tube shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a view similar-to Figure 2, with the 55 cap entirely removed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cap;

Figure 5 is another perspective view of the cap showing the opposite side from that shown in Figure 4; I

Figure 6 is a section along the line 66 of 6 Figure 3.

Figure '7 is a side elevation of a modified form of the device; and a Figure 8 is a section along the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a collapsible tube indicated generally at I This tube has a top 2 provided with a mouth 3 which is non-circular in cross-section. The outer end of the mouth has an inclined edge 4, and the longer wall 5 of the mouth has a groove 6 formedtherein. The groove may be dug into the wall of the mouth, or it may be formed by ridges 1, see Figure 6.

The cap is shown in Figures 4 and 5, and it will be noted that it has a top 8 that is'designed to cover the open end 4 of the mouth. Flanges 9 and ID are provided on the sides of the top 8 and contact with the sides H and I2 of the mouth 3. The flanges 9 and Ill have arms [3 and M which have inwardly bent ends I5 and I6 that are re-: movably received in the groove 6. The lower end of the top 8 has an integralleaf spring [1, and this spring yieldinglyvengages with the rear wall l8 of the mouth for yieldingly holding the top 8- in closed position on the open end 4 of themouth.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

The cap is applied to the mouth so that the end portions I5 and I6 Spring into the groove 6, and when the cap is in this position the spring I! will exert sufficient force to normally keep the cap in closed position. The flanges 9 and I0 keep the contents ofthe tube in a sanitary condition.

When using the device the tube I is compressed with suificient force to cause the material within the tube to flow toward the mouth 3. The pressure of the material is-strong enough to exert force against the under surface of the top 8, and this will swing the top 8 into a slightly open position as shown in Figure l, and the spring I! i will be flexed slightly to permit this movement.

It will be noted that when the cap is in its open position the material will be forced through the rectangular opening l9, see Figure 1, and this will cause the material to be issued in the form of a ribbon. If the material is tooth paste, this ribbon-like form will lie flaton the brush. .The cap will permit the feeding of the ribbon of material so long as pressure iscontinuously applied to the tube I. In this simple way the amount of material delivered by the tube can be controlled. As soon as the pressure is released on the tube the cap will instantly close, due to the pressure of the spring I! and the contents of the tube can be kept in a sanitary condition.

It will be seen that it is unnecessary to at any time remove the cap, and that all the operator needs to do is to press upon the tube and the material will be delivered. The device is extremely simple in construction, and is durable and eflicient for the purpose intended.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In Figures 7 and 8 I show a slightly modified form of the device. In this form theneck of the tube 26 is cylindrical in form and has an enlarged top 21 rectangular in shape. The shape of the top 21 is identical to the open end 4 of the mouth 3, and this top receives the cap 28 which is similar to the cap 8. The leaf spring 29 for holding the cap in closed position has a shoulder 30 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The cap 28 has arms 3| corresponding to the arms I3 and I4, and the front ends of these arms 3| are bent toward each other and are pivotally received in a recess 32 formed in a rib 33 that extends along the length of the neck 25. This form of the device operates in identically the same manner as the forms shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive. Less friction is developed in this form of the invention because the arms 3| extend free of the neck 25 with'the exception of their point of pivot. In the preferred form the arms l3 and I4 may be bentslightly as shown in Figure 4 so'as to lie free of the sides I I and I2 of the mouth 3. 1

In the modified form of the device I also show a novel lock or stop member for preventing the accidental opening of the cap 28. The lock comprises a split ring 34 slidable on the neck 25 and this ring has a projection 35 that engages with the shoulder 30 when the ring is moved to the position shown in Figure 7. The ring when in this position prevents the flap 28 from opening. When it is desired to use the device, the ring 34 is lowered until the projection is received in the recess 36 formed by the bent portion of the spring 29. The cap now can function in the ordinary manner. The ends of the split ring 34 engage with the rib 33, see Figure 8, and prevents the rotation of the ring on the neck. v

I claim. I

1. A collapsible tube having a mouth rectangular in cross section with an inclined open end, whereby the mouth is provided with opposed long and short walls, the longer wall having a transverse groove formed in its outer surface, a cap having a top designed to cover the inclined end, said top also having flanges engaging with the sides of the mouth with arms that have their ends pivotally and removably received in the groove, and a leaf spring integral with the cap and yieldingly engaging with the shorter wall for moving the cap into closed position.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a cap having a top, side flanges extending from the top, arms integral with the side flanges and having their free ends bent toward each other so as to lie on a common axis, and a leaf spring integral with the top and extending from the rear edge of the top.

3. The combination with a tube mouth having a longer front wall than rear wall, of a cap overlying the exterior surfaces of the tube mouth and adjacent surfaces of the side walls, said cap being pivotally secured to the outer surface of the front-wall, and a leaf spring integral with the cap and yieldingly engaging with the exterior surface of the rear wall for closing the cap.

4. A collapsible tube having a rectangular mouth with an obliquely inclined, wide open end, a cap covering the open end and having arms pivoted to the front wall of the mouth, said cap when opening, fulcruming and sliding on the top rear edge of the mouth, and spring means for closing the cap, said cap having side flanges slidably engaging with the outer surfaces of the side wall for forming an elongated opening at the front of the mouth through which the contents of the tube may be extruded in ribbon-like form.

5. A collapsible tube having a mouth with an obliquely inclined and fully opened end, a selfopening cap normally closing the open end and havingarms pivoted on the mouth, said cap opening when the tube contents are forced thereagainst, a spring for closing the cap when the pressure on the tube is released, and means for locking the cap against opening.

6. A collapsible tube having a mouth rectangular in cross section with an inclined open end, whereby the mouth is provided with opposed long and short walls, a cap having a top designed to cover the inclined end, said top also having flanges engaging with the sides of the mouth with arms that have their ends pivotally and removably received in the front wall, and a-leaf spring integral with the cap and yieldingly engaging with the shorter wall for moving the cap into closed position.

' GASTON LATEUR. 

